By Deputy Editor Felix Mordaunt.
Looking at the weekly Students’ Union newsletter, it’s clear that the majority of activities and events in DCU take place on the Glasnevin campus, and it’s easy to see why. As of now, the college has five faculties, and four of them are taught in Glasnevin.
On the 13th February, I interviewed Charlie Savage, a Gnó agus Gaeilge (Business and Irish) student on DCU’s All Hallows campus who was, at the time, campaigning in the SU elections for the position of Ceannaire Mac Léinn Gaeilge.
Savage spoke briefly about his, and other students’ experiences studying Irish on All Hallows, and I realised something. During my time in DCU so far, I had never once been to any campus other than Glasnevin. I barely even knew where they were.
My curiosity ignited, I began to research and visit All Hallows, and what I found was DCU’s oldest and definitely most underrated campus.
All Hallows College was officially incorporated into DCU in 2016 along with St. Patrick’s College (now the St. Pat’s Campus), becoming DCU All Hallows. However, the college began life long before that, being founded in 1842 by Father John Hand, an Irish priest who is now buried in All Hallows cemetery.
This makes it DCU’s oldest campus; Albert College, the Glasnevin Campus’ oldest building, was constructed in 1851, and St. Pat’s originally opened in 1875.
All Hallows was initially a religious institution, training priests who served in Ireland, as well abroad. Over the years, it expanded, beginning to offer adult education courses, as well as courses in theology and humanities during the 1960s. In 1988, the college began teaching its first Bachelor of Arts degree.
After officially becoming a part of DCU in 2016, the courses All Hallows offered shifted to be more in line with DCU’s focus. Today, All Hallows is home to part of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, specifically the School of English, as well as the School of Theology, Philosophy and Music, and Fiontair agus Scoil na Gaeilge (Enterprise and Irish Language Schools).
The Campus itself is a much needed change from the sometimes overwhelming crowds and activity that can be seen on Glasnevin. All Hallows is tranquil and green, with quiet, historic buildings nestled among lush fields and ancient trees.
The college’s main learning center, Senior House, is an “L” shaped neo-gothic building constructed between 1853 and 1857. It contains several lecture halls, including the John Hand lecture room, named after All Hallows’ founder, as well as the campus’ main restaurant and the college library.
Senior House is a step into the past; black roof beams supporting a slanted roof, perpendicular to pointed windows decorated with diamond muntins give the building a medieval atmosphere.
The Woodlock Hall Library is a beautifully constructed centre for quiet reading, writing or studying. Multiple tiers of deep maroon bookshelves over long tables with comfortable, cushioned chairs give the library an old and historical feeling, despite it only opening in 2022.
However, elements of the older building can still be seen, such as the old stone fireplace to the left as you walk in. This was a feature of the old Woodlock Hall, a lecture room that would eventually be transformed into the current library.
DCU All Hallows is a campus rich with history and nature. It serves as a college, a place to learn and grow- but also as a step into the past, a view of history and a break from the often fast-paced and hectic nature of modern life.